VANCOUVER - The mayor of Vancouver urged his former foster son to turn himself into police Thursday after a warrant was issued for the 21-year-old on drug and gun charges.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson said he learned that Jinagh Navas-Rivas is wanted by the Richmond RCMP. Robertson and his wife fostered parented Navas-Rivas for two years until 2009.

"We have always believed that providing support to youth in need is of great importance and that fostering is an important contribution our family can make. It was in this spirit that we took in Jinagh to live with us," Robertson said in a written statement.

"I am disappointed to hear that Jinagh is wanted by the Richmond RCMP and I urge him to turn himself into the police immediately,"

Robertson notes that Navas-Rivas has been on his own since June 2009.

Four other men are charged in what has described as a dial-a-dope and gun operation.

Online court records indicate that Navas-Rivas was charged on Dec. 23 with manufacturing or transferring a firearm and two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance.

The charges relate to offences alleged to have occurred in November and December in New Westminster and Richmond.